The family that eats together, eats better.

From the American Dietetic Association:

“Researchers (from the University of Minnesota) found that eating family meals together during adolescence resulted in adults who ate more fruit, dark-green and orange vegetables and key nutrients, and drank less soft drinks. Frequency of family meals predicted females would eat breakfast as adults. For both sexes, frequency of family meals as adolescents predicted eating dinner more frequently as adults, placing a higher priority on structured meals and a higher priority on social eating.

For women, eating together as a family more often during adolescence meant significantly higher daily intakes as s of calcium, magnesium, potassium, vitamin B6 and fiber. Among males, eating as a family more during adolescence predicted higher intakes of calcium, magnesium, potassium and fiber as adults.

‘Results of this study suggest that having more family meals during adolescence is associated with improved diet quality during young adulthood,’ the researchers say. Food and nutrition professionals should encourage families to share meals as often as practically possible.”